Portable dugout scoreboard

ABSTRACT

A portable scoreboard includes self winding scrolls exposed through windows in a front face for keeping score, and open areas for applying team logos. The front face includes spaced apart pairs of slots for each scoring scroll, and additional pairs of spaced apart slots for scrolls representing a phase of a game, for example, an inning. The scrolls are self winding on bobbins behind the slots and pass through the slots to generally expose a single digit for viewing. Digits are changed by simply manually sliding the exposed portion of a scroll to expose the next digit. The scrolls generally include digits spaced apart to display single digits and a pair of scrolls are used to express numbers greater than nine, but may optionally also include spaced apart double digits. Areas are provided below the individual scores and on a back surface to place team logos and/or advertising.

The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/027,629 filed Feb. 11, 2008, which applicationis incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to scoreboards and in particular to a lowcost portable scoreboard suitable for hanging in a baseball dugout.

A variety of sports are practiced thousands of times every week infields and gyms across the United States. These sports are oftenpracticed in playing areas which lack permanent scoreboards or where thepermanent scoreboards are present but not available for general use. Insuch situations, teams often attempt to improvise or to use a portablescoreboard.

Portable electronic portable scoreboards are available, for example, theESE310 Baseball scoreboard available from Electronic Scoreboards costingover $2,000. While such electronic scoreboards meet the present need, inmany instances, the cost is prohibitive. Additionally, teams oftendesire a personalized scoreboard with team logos and the like, whichscoreboards are positioned in the team's rest area, for example, in abaseball dugout. The cost of known electronic scoreboards isparticularly prohibitive for such personalized use.

Manual “flip” scoreboards are available at much lower cost thanelectronic scoreboards, but cannot be used in all situations, forexample, where room is not available for flipping the numbers. Thus aneed remains for a low cost portable scoreboard which can be used in allscenarios.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing aportable scoreboard which includes self winding scrolls exposed throughwindows in the scoreboard front face for keeping score, and open surfaceareas for applying team logos. The front face includes spaced apartpairs of slots for each scoring scroll, and additional pairs of spacedapart slots for phase scrolls representing a phase of a game, forexample, the inning. The scrolls are self winding on bobbins behind theslots and pass through the slots to generally expose a single digit forviewing. Digits are changed by simply manually sliding the exposedportion of a scroll to expose the next digit. The scrolls generallyinclude digits spaced apart to display single digits and a pair ofscrolls are used to express numbers greater than nine, but mayoptionally also include spaced apart double digits. Areas are providedbelow the individual scores and on a back surface to place team logosand/or advertising.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided aportable scoreboard. The portable scoreboard includes a scoreboardenclosure having a scoreboard face and pairs of horizontally spacedapart first and second slots, spaced apart by a spacing S, in thescoreboard face. Self winding scrolls are provided for manually changingscores. The self winding scrolls include spaced apart digits andcontiguously and serially comprise a first self winding portion residingbehind the scoreboard face, a flattened portion residing exposed beforethe scoreboard face, and a second self winding portion residing behindthe scoreboard face. The digits are spaced apart farther than thespacing S so that only one digit may be exposed at a time. There may bean additional self winding scroll to show the phase of the game.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod for using a portable scoreboard for keeping score at a sportsevent. The method includes positioning the scoreboard for viewing by atleast one of players and audience members, manually sliding exposedportions of score scrolls horizontally to an end to show a score of zerofor teams playing in a game, observing scores made in the game, andmanually sliding the exposed portions of the score scrolls horizontallyto show a change in score when a score is made. The method mayadditionally include manually sliding exposed portions of a phase scrollhorizontally to indicate the beginning of the game, observing the phaseof the game, and manually sliding exposed portions of the phase scrollhorizontally to indicate a change in the phase of the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following more particulardescription thereof, presented in conjunction with the followingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1A is a front view of a portable scoreboard according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 1B is a rear view of the portable scoreboard according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 1C is a side view of the portable scoreboard according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1C of theportable scoreboard according to the present invention showing selfwinding scrolls.

FIG. 3 shows a pair of the self winding scroll elements of a scoring orphase scroll according to the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a self winding scroll portion of ascoring or phase scroll according to the present invention, taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a self winding scroll portion of ascoring or phase scroll with an inner bobbin and an outer bobbinaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a hook according to the present invention for hanging theportable scoreboard in a baseball dugout.

FIG. 6 is a method for keeping score according to the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding componentsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated forcarrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one ormore preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the inventionshould be determined with reference to the claims.

A view of a front face 12 of a scoreboard enclosure 13 of a portablescoreboard 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1A, aview of a back face 24 of the scoreboard enclosure 13 of the scoreboard10 is shown in FIG. 1B, and a side view of the scoreboard enclosure 13of the scoreboard 10 is shown in FIG. 1C. The scoreboard includes twohorizontally spaced apart continuous self winding scoring scrolls 11 aand a game phase scroll 11 b comprising a first self winding portion 22a residing behind the front face 12 (see FIG. 2), an exposed flattenedportion 14 exposed in front of the front face 12 for viewing, and asecond self winding portion 22 b residing behind the front face 12.

Digits (or numerals) 18 are displayed on the flattened portion 14 toprovide game scores and/or phases (for example, innings in baseball).The digits 18 are spaced apart at least a distance to conceal anadjacent digit 18 when a digit 18 is centered between one of the pairsof horizontally spaced apart slots 16 a, 16 b. The self winding scrollspass through horizontally spaced apart pairs of horizontally spacedapart first and second vertical slots 16 a and 16 b in the front face12. The front face 12 includes indicia 20 indicating the team the scoreis for. The back face 24 of the portable scoreboard 10 includes twoopenings 26 for hanging the portable scoreboard 10. A variety of hooksmay be used to hang the scoreboard 10 from walls, fences, etc. Apreferred hook is described in FIG. 5.

Opens areas 17 on the front face 12, and open area 19 on the back face24, are provided for stickers, decals, painting, marking, or any form ofvisual representation. A preferred use of the scoreboard 10 is forindividual use by a team, for example, hanging in a baseball dugout.Teams may apply stickers or logos with a team name, in the open areas17. Such stickers are available from Wincraft in Winona, Minn. and fromGiant Sticker in Hygiene, Colo. Additionally, the areas 17 and 19 may beused for advertising, and due to the very low cost of the scoreboard 10according to the present invention, manufacturers and retailers mayplace their logos and/or contact information on the scoreboard 10 andgive the scoreboard 10 to teams, for example, to little league teams.There are approximately 250,000 active little league teams and as manyas ten million baseball and softball teams competing in the UnitedStates presenting a huge market for sporting goods. A low cost productwhich allows a manufacturer or retailer to gain exposure to this marketis of tremendous value, and the portable scoreboard 10 according to thepresent invention provides exactly that exposure.

Self winding scrolls 11 a and 11 b are made by first forming a flatsheet, and then tightly winding the flat sheet around a mandrel. Theflat sheet has a structural memory, and when the sheet is removed fromthe mandrel, the sheet self winds. Mylar® polyester film is an exampleof a material which provides the desired structural properties, butmaterials with similar properties may also be used. Such self windingsheets are available from Vulcan Spring in Telford, Pa.

A rear view of the self winding portions 22 a and 22 b of a general selfwinding scroll 11 is shown in FIG. 3 and a cross-sectional view of theself winding portions 22 a and 22 b taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 isshown in FIG. 4A. The self winding portion 22 a and 22 b reside behindthe spaced apart slots 16 a and 16 b. Transition portions 15 a and 15 bof the self winding scroll 11 pass through the front face 12 and connectthe first self winding portions 22 a and 22 b to the exposed flattenedportion 14. Each pair of slots 16 a, 16 b are spaced apart by a spacingS which is preferably approximately 2.25 inches and the slots 16 a, 16 bhave a width W which is preferably approximately 0.125 inches. Nowinding means is required because of the self winding tendency of thescroll 11.

A top view of an embodiment of the present invention with a tube (orinner bobbin) 28 inside the self winding portion 22 b and a split tube(or outer bobbin) 30 resides over the self winding portion 22 a is shownin FIG. 4B. The outer bobbin 30 and inner bobbin 28 tend to help theself winding portion 22 b consistently self wind.

A variety of hooks may be used to hang the scoreboard 10 from walls,fences, etc. A preferred hook 32 is shown in FIG. 5. The hook 32 has alarge end 32 a with a mouth width W1, a small end 32 b with a mouthwidth W2, and an overall height H. The width W1 is preferablyapproximately 0.8 inches, the width W2 is preferably approximately 0.25inches and the height H is preferably approximately three inches. Thesmall end 32 b is suitable for carrying the scoreboard 10 by insertinginto the openings 26 (see FIG. 1B) and the large end 32 a is suitablefor engaging a dugout fence. While the hook 32 is preferred, a varietyof other methods may be exercised to hang the scoreboard 10 or thescoreboard 10 may rest on a shelf or table, and any scoreboard 10 havingscrolls as described herein for displaying scores is intended to comewithin the scope of the present invention.

The portable scoreboard 10 preferably is made from ABS plastic and apreferred size is approximately 18 inches wide, approximately 14 incheshigh, and approximately 1.25 inches deep. The indicia 20 may be silkscreened, may be a sticker, may be a decal, may be stenciled on, orcreated by any appropriate method. The self winding scrolls arepreferably approximately five inches by approximately 30 inches whenlaid flat, preferably approximately 0.003 inches thick and preferablymade of Mylar® polyester film. The slots 16 a and 16 b are preferablydie cut in the front face 12.

A method for keeping score according to the present invention isdescribed in FIG. 6. The method includes positioning the scoreboard forviewing by at least one of players and audience members at step 100,manually sliding exposed portions of score scrolls horizontally to anend to show a score of zero for teams playing in a game at step 102,observing scores made in the game at step 104, and manually sliding theexposed portions of the score scrolls horizontally to show a change inscore when a score is made at step 106. The method may additionallyinclude manually sliding exposed portions of a phase scroll horizontallyto indicate the beginning of the game at step 108, observing the phaseof the game at step 110, and manually sliding exposed portions of thephase scroll horizontally to indicate a change in the phase of the gameat step 112. The Step 100 preferably comprises positioning thescoreboard inside a baseball dugout for viewing by a baseball team.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modificationsand variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A portable scoreboard comprising: a scoreboard enclosure having: ascoreboard front face; and at least one spaced apart pair ofhorizontally spaced apart first and second scoring slots in thescoreboard front face, the slots horizontally spaced apart by a spacingS; a continuous self winding scoring scroll cooperating with each pairof slots and including spaced apart digits, the scroll contiguously andserially comprising: a first self winding portion residing behind thescoreboard front face; a first transition portion passing through thefirst slot; a flattened portion residing exposed above the scoreboardfront face; a second transition portion passing through the second slot;and a second self winding portion residing behind the scoreboard frontface.
 2. The portable scoreboard of claim 1, wherein the self windingportions are wound on inner bobbins.
 3. The portable scoreboard of claim2, wherein split outer bobbins reside over the self winding portions. 4.The portable scoreboard of claim 1, wherein the spaced apart digits arespaced apart single digits.
 5. The portable scoreboard of claim 4,wherein the spaced apart digits are spaced apart at least a distance toconceal an adjacent digit when a digit is centered between one of thepairs of horizontally spaced apart slots.
 6. The portable scoreboard ofclaim 1, wherein the self winding portions are free to self wind behindthe front face of the scoreboard.
 7. The portable scoreboard of claim 1,wherein the at least one spaced apart pair of scoring slots are at leasttwo horizontally spaced apart pairs of scoring slots.
 8. The portablescoreboard of claim 7, further including an additional pair ofhorizontally spaced apart phase slots and an additional self windingphase scroll for showing a phase of a game.
 9. The portable scoreboardof claim 8, wherein the additional pair of horizontally spaced apartphase slots are vertically spaced apart from the scoring slots.
 10. Theportable scoreboard of claim 8, further including at least one area forapplying a team logo.
 11. A portable scoreboard comprising: a scoreboardenclosure having: a scoreboard front face; four horizontally spacedapart pairs of horizontally spaced apart first and second scoring slotsin the scoreboard front face, the scoring slots of each spaced apartpair spaced apart by a spacing S; a pair of horizontally spaced apartfirst and second phase slots vertically spaced apart from the scoringslots; continuous self winding scoring scrolls, each scroll cooperatingwith one of the pairs of scoring slots and with the pair of phase slotsand including spaced apart digits, the scrolls contiguously and seriallycomprising: a first self winding portion residing behind the scoreboardfront face; a first transition portion passing through the first slot; aflattened portion residing exposed before the scoreboard front face; asecond transition portion passing through the second slot; and a secondself winding portion residing behind the scoreboard front face; twoareas residing on the front face on each side of the phase slots andbelow the scoring slots for applying team logos to the front face.
 12. Amethod for keeping score with a portable scoreboard, the methodcomprising: positioning the scoreboard for viewing by at least one ofplayers and audience members; manually sliding exposed portions ofscoring scrolls horizontally to an end to show a score of zero for teamsplaying in a game; observing scores made in the game; and manuallysliding the exposed portions of the score scrolls horizontally to show achange in score when a score is made.
 13. The method of claim 12,further including: manually sliding exposed portions of a phase scrollhorizontally to indicate the beginning of the game; observing the phaseof the game; and manually sliding exposed portions of the phase scrollhorizontally to indicate a change in the phase of the game.